The New Nation - Internet Edition

A group of thugs took away a briefcase with Taka 12
lakh from Kurban Khwaza, an employee of Secondary and Higher
Secondary Education Department, who drew the cash for
disbursing salaries of its employees from Agrani Bank,
Jatiya Press Club Branch in the

Staff Reporter

A gang of cheaters decamped with about Tk 12.5 lakh from Agrani Bank National Press Club branch in the heart of the capital yesterday morning.

Source said the amount was drawn against the salary of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Department in Dhaka by a staff of the education department, Kurban Khaza.

According to the banks Principal Officer, Mohammad Kabir, after encashment of the cheque for Tk 12,24,6,49 from the bank by Kurban at about 9:30 he (kurban) stuffed the money in a briefcase and kept it down on his right side while sitting on a chair in front of him. At that time, one of the cheaters, who entered the bank in the guise of a client, guilefully diverted his attention and ran away in no time with the briefcase.

The fraud threw some 500-taka notes on the floor and asked Kurban if the money was his. As Kurban turned his head towards the bank notes on the floor the cheat grabbed his briefcase, passed it on to his accomplice and both disappeared in no time.

The bank official, Kabir said, "I shouted for locking the main gate of the bank, but the ruffians made good their escape before we could gather our wits."

The branch has only two security guards, Dulal and Altaf. During the incident, Dulal went to bring tea for some of the employees, Kabir added.

The branch has no CCTV cameras, armed guards or security alarm system, complained one of the bank staff.

Duty officer of Shahbag Police Station Jhangir Alam said the Additional Director of the Department, Akram Haq, filed a case in this connection.